© Zani-Casadio

Vespers at San Vitale

Echi riflessi
Music expressions and mysteries of faith

Gocce d’Armonia


Christus factus est (Gregorian gradual)
Giovanni Animuccia (1520-1571)
Lodate Dio

William Byrd (1540-1623)
Ave Verum

Déodat de Séverac (1872-1921)
Tantum Ergo

Damijan Močnik (1967)
Verbum Supernum prodiens

Horváth Márton Levente (1983)
O Salutaris Hostia

Ave Donna Sanctissima (from the Laudario di Cortona)
Gregor Aichinger (1564-1628)
Regina Coeli

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Salve Regina

Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
Tota Pulchra es

Mauro Zuccante (1962)
Alma Redemptoris Mater

Ēriks Ešenvalds (1977)
Magnificat – Nunc Dimittis

It is a theme-based path that spans the universe of sacred a cappella music, involving the public in a journey through time, exploring the various periods and styles. A way of comparing music composed on the same themes developed by authors who are very different. And an attempt at understanding how various composers have “reflected” a certain theme in their peculiar musical style. In a performance designed to exalt the extraordinary acoustics of the Basilica of San Vitale, exploiting its spaces, the presbytery and the matroneum, in a play of “echoes” among the various sections of the choir.
The first part of the concert is related to the Eucharistic theme and to some compositions on texts written by St. Thomas Aquinas for the feast of Corpus Domini. The second part shifts focus to the figure of Mary, who always looks upon us with compassionate and merciful eyes. The conclusion, according to the liturgy of the Vespers, is the Magnificat of the Latvian Ēriks Ešenvalds combined with Simeon’s song of praise, Nunc Dimittis.

Full programme “Vespers at San Vitale”